To meet an urgent need for the automotive industry to eradicate a widely used compound that has contaminated water bodies and proved fatal to some fish, US startup Carbon River has come up with a promising solution.
Anticipated to be the leading authority, California is set to demand tire makers demonstrate their effort to substitute 6PPD later this year. 6PPD, an antioxidant and antizonant present in all tires today, plays an important role in stabilizing them and reducing cracking. However, more recent scientific research published in 2020 showed that the chemical was responsible for mass deaths of coho salmon along the US West Coast.
Incorporating graphene nanoflakes into tyres, as proposed by Knoxville, Tennessee-based Carbon River, might result in a 28% decrease in emissions and the replacement of the majority, if not all, 6PPDs. Tire manufacturers are facing increasing pressure to find a solution as the increased weight of electric vehicles (EVs) is projected to increase the release of 6PPD at tyre-road contact.
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Carbon River Graphene Nanoflakes Revolutionize the Fight Against 6PPD Pollution
David Morgan, the Chief Strategy Officer of Carbon Rivers, emphasized the “tremendous reduction” in 6PPD witnessed during initial testing involving graphene nanoflakes in tires.
The company is actively cooperating with regulatory bodies, aiming to start trials in the first quarter of 2024. Morgan further revealed that the use of Carbon River’s graphene nanoflakes in tires on public roads could become a reality as early as 2025.
According to Morgan, graphene possesses extraordinary qualities such as exceptional strength, flexibility, and thermal conductivity, making it an ideal addition to tires at an incredibly low cost.
The Department of Toxic Substances Control in California confirmed that there have been no direct discussions with tire manufacturers regarding the adoption of graphene as an antifreeze. However, he acknowledged the evaluation of graphene as a possible alternative to 6PPD by at least one company (not involved in tire manufacturing).
Pirelli, a major tire maker, expressed its commitment to researching graphene and other advanced materials as a possible alternative to 6PPD. However, the spokesperson said there is currently no evidence supporting the viability of graphene as a substitute in tyres. As a result, the proposed timeline for its industrial application to 2025 seems unrealistic.
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While Pirelli remains in contact with producers of advanced materials, they choose not to disclose specific names, highlighting concerns regarding dependency, as China controls approximately 65% of the global supply of graphite required for graphene production.
Mark Bisset, a nanomaterials specialist at the University of Manchester’s Henry Royce Institute and National Graphene Institute, emphasised the need for more research to confirm the safety of graphene and all other nanomaterials. Nevertheless, the broad opinion believes that graphene is safe based on the study that has already been done.
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